Thursday, August 26, 2010

Within the past few weeks, I've had painting time with both of my sisters. We've had so much fun and I'm so proud of their work!

Katie had never painted with acrylic on canvas. She wanted to paint a picture of a sailboat for her boyfriend, Matt who had just bought a new sailboat. She was quite brave and her first painting lesson was a huge success!

Kimmie has always been very artistic, and last year we bought her a painting set, as she has always shown interest in it. She's painted a couple of paintings in the last year and on this particular day she finished one that she had been working on for a while.

Wednesday, August 25, 2010

Kimmie's the first sibling to really go away away for college. Selfishly, I wanted her to stay, but she's always said that she would be the one to break the mold and test out uncharted territory.

I'm so proud of her and can't wait to see how her life shapes to God's will and plan...but I can't help but think that it won't be the same around here without her.(I mean, who else can fill a room with such an infectious laugh?)

* * *

The left-behind-sisters, wanted to do something to send her off, so we planned a couple of little "goodbye" projects.

First, we made her lots and lots of hand stamped postcards. We used both my handmade stamps and some store bought ones and stamped one side of different sized colored paper. On the other side, we simply drew some lines for the address and a line to separate the note from the address. Easy! Then all we had to do was buy some stamps, and make her promise she'd write!

Our second project was to put together a scrapbook of pictures and notes from all of her family members... logistically, this was a little tough, but so worth it in the end.

Tuesday, August 24, 2010

I had a group of kids a couple of years ago, that as a group, was very negative. Most of the students had a very low self-esteem and negative comments flew across the room constantly not only at each other but usually toward themselves.

As a staff, we tried our best to shower them with positivity. It's so easy, as a teacher of kids with Asperger's syndrome(or any kids), to focus on the correcting the negative, rather than encouraging the positive. And boy did these guys need it.

It really got to a point where I felt that they needed to a constant reminder of things that were special about them, so I made a list and stuck to each of their desks with velcro.

I have continued doing this since then and I just finished creating this year's group of encouragement cards. I think it really made a difference for them to have a reminder that they ARE great kids and DO have many things about them that are unique and wonderful.

Are there ways that you can tangibly encourage the kids in your life this week? (They don't know that you think these things unless you tell them. Right?)

716. secret sister plans717. birthday surprises718. Jonny, graduating719. long naps and chicken soup720. the end of summer camp721. my new sewing machine722. painting with Kimmie and crafting with Katie723. knitting with Grandma724. a mini Nantucket basket and a handmade necklace from my love725. heath and oreo fro-yo726. beautiful, temperate, end-of-summer days727. kind and knowledgeable doctors and probable answers728. a new adventure for Kimmie729. hope (I just realized that I might write this almost every week...)730.a lovely birthday bouquets from the dearest of friends and it's blooms that cheered me all week long..

Nestled in Cathedral Forest, there is a long standing tradition of making little faerie houses along the trail. It was so fun to walk through this forest trail dotted with tiny structures made with bark, moss, sticks, leaves, pebbles and shells. The photos don't do them justice. I was amazed at the creativity and ingenuity of the artists, visitors and kids who created these beautiful little homes in the island forest.

Thursday, August 19, 2010

The village was quaint and rustic, no paved roads and no cars. Small seaside cottages lined the streets, flanked by bright flower gardens. The hiking trails were beautiful, filled with secrets and opening up to large ocean vistas. There is an artist colony on Monhegan and painters were set up throughout the rocks and meadows...

As promised, here is our photo-log of the beautiful

Monhegan Island, Maine.

A few shots taken leaving Port Clyde and starting out on our way to the island...

The "Misty Mae" (this is for you, Katie and Kimmie! Is this lobsterman a volleyball fan?)

Bri, reading Anna Karenina on the "Elizabeth Ann"

Me, trying to stay warm.

There were so many little seaside houses hidden away looking out onto the ocean...

The Island...

On the wharf.

Lobster traps and the Atlantic.

Quaint little roads meant for walking.

Paradise.

Hiking trails. (there were some surprises hidden in these woods..I'll share these another day)

We hiked to the other side of the island and came upon the most gorgeous view!